Published: June 27, 2025
NEW YORK — Liberia celebrated early Thursday as Thomas Sorber, a rising basketball star with deep Liberian roots, was selected 15th overall by the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Fans across the country stayed up through the early hours, glued to television screens in anticipation of the draft. When Sorber’s name was announced, jubilation swept across Liberia’s basketball community.
The 6-foot-10 center, who played his freshman season at Georgetown University, averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game before an injury cut his season short. Despite the setback, he earned Big East All-Freshman Team honors and was named to the All-Big East Third Team.
Sorber’s journey to the NBA is rooted in resilience. His parents fled Liberia during the civil war in the 1990s and built a new life in the United States for their three children. Athletic talent runs in the family—his brother, Peter Jr., is set to play at Morgan State, while his sister, Regina, played at Alabama A&M. Their father, Peter, a former soccer player, stands at 6-foot-5.
Speaking to reporters at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Sorber described the attributes he plans to bring to the Thunder.
“I think I’m bringing a defensive-minded type of intensity,” he said. “Just giving them all I’ve got on the defensive end. And then on the offensive end, just being a great player—reading the right things, hedging, coming back. Just being there at all times and being a good defender.”
Sorber honed his skills at Trenton Catholic Academy in New Jersey before transferring to Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia, where he led the team to All-Catholic, All-State, and Philadelphia Catholic League titles. He became the first NBA draftee in the school’s history just a year after graduating.
At the 2025 NBA Combine, his 7-foot-6 wingspan tied for the second-longest measurement, matching Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner. Sorber was named Big East Freshman of the Week seven times and remained one of the conference’s most consistent contributors, competing against powerhouse programs like UConn, Marquette, and Villanova. Though UConn’s Liam McNeely won Freshman of the Year honors, Sorber’s presence was undeniable.
Prior to the draft, Sorber returned to his high school to speak at a youth summer camp, giving back to the community that helped shape his path. As a high school senior, he averaged 18.9 points per game, ranked No. 50 nationally in the class of 2025, and No. 3 in the state of Pennsylvania.
NBA Draft Context
The NBA Draft allows teams to select top prospects from U.S. colleges and international ranks. The first 14 picks are determined by a lottery system involving teams that missed the playoffs the previous season.
A rookie’s salary is based on their draft position, as outlined in the league’s collective bargaining agreement. For the 2025–26 season, the No. 1 overall pick is projected to earn about $13.8 million. As the 15th pick, Sorber is expected to earn roughly $4.65 million over the course of his rookie deal.
Sorber’s selection marks not just a personal milestone but a historic moment for Liberia. It has sparked hope that his success will galvanize interest, investment, and long-term development in the country’s emerging basketball scene.
Discussion about this post